Astros return Kingwood, Rice product Pendleton to Yankees

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Lance Pendleton will not get the chance to pitch for his hometown team beyond spring training after all.

The Astros sent the Kingwood High School and Rice product back to the Yankees after he failed to make the team as a Rule 5 pick.

By the rules of the Rule 5 draft, held last December, the Astros grabbed Pendleton away from the Yankees for a $50,000 fee and immediately put him on the 40-man roster. To hold on to his rights, though, the Astros would have had to keep him on the active roster the whole season.

Because they declined to do so, they put him through the required waiver process — nobody bit on that chance; they would have had to make the same active roster commitment – and he was offered back to the Yankees. The Yankees accepted, giving the Astros $25,000 of the $50,000 back.

Pendleton gave up five earned runs on nine hits in 7 2/3 innings this spring.

His departure, combined with the outright assignment of Cesar Carrillo, leaves 38 players on the Astros’ 40-man roster. Those slots can be filled by non-roster invites, like J.B. Shuck, Anderson Hernandez or Oswaldo Navarro, making the team or by players from other clubs should the Astros still decide to go that route to fill positions late in camp.